Begin by resting the front shoe of the planer flat on the wood without letting the blade touch the work.
Start the tool, let the motor reach full speed, then ease the plane into contact with the work and push it steadily forward.
Keep your initial pressure on the front grip as the planer enters the workpiece.
Balance hand pressure between the tool handle and front knob as both planer soles contact the work.
As you push the tool off the work, apply greater control to “catch” the rear handle. Avoid overreaching at the end of a pass; the front shoe will drop off the wood and let the blades take an uneven bite off the end of the wood (called “snipe”).